This essay, originally written on October 2, 2018, highlights Sakata’s astonishing historical capacity: producing over 650,000 koku of rice, meticulously storing it with the uniquely Japanese sense of order, and transporting it in massive quantities via the Kitamaebune coastal trading ships.
Contrary to King Leopold II of Belgium—who claimed that “Asia’s uncivilized lands would surely welcome European civilization” while massacring millions in the Congo—Japan had already developed a sophisticated internal economy and large-scale logistics network unmatched anywhere in the world.
The author argues that NHK’s Bura Tamori: Sakata Edition reveals this remarkable truth and should be broadcast globally, instead of superficial “Cool Japan” initiatives. NHK owes this to the Japanese people whose taxes fund the broadcaster.

Japan had produced more than 650,000 koku of rice in Sakata alone, stored 650,000 koku in splendid warehouses with the uniquely Japanese sense of order and organization, transported it in large quantities by the Kitamaebune, and conducted massive domestic trade.
October 2, 2018.

This week’s theme was Sakata City in Yamagata Prefecture.

In European Travel Notes, when Tokugawa Yoshinobu’s younger brother Akitake visited Belgium, the book describes with delight how King Leopold II “showed him exceptional goodwill.”
However, the king later plotted to colonize Japan.
He even said, “The uncivilized lands of Asia will surely welcome the civilization of Europe.”
In the end, he colonized the Congo, chopped off the wrists of half its population, and killed seventy percent of its people.
And yet, not a single critical word is said about such a king.

The above is an excerpt from a brilliant essay by Masayuki Takayama published in this week’s Shukan Shincho.
Even today, countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands (to say nothing of the fools at Germany’s Süddeutsche Zeitung) must, deep down—knowing nothing of world history—harbor the same views toward Japan as Leopold II did.

For example, today’s episode of Bura Tamori: Sakata Edition is precisely the kind of historical fact that should be shown to them and made known to them.
Long before Leopold II uttered foolish remarks such as “The uncivilized lands of Asia will surely welcome European civilization,” Japan was producing more than 650,000 koku of rice in Sakata alone, storing 650,000 koku perfectly in warehouses with uniquely Japanese orderliness, transporting it in massive quantities by the Kitamaebune, and conducting huge domestic trade.
There was no country in the world like Japan, and this Sakata episode can reveal that in every respect to the world.

NHK, this is not about “Cool Japan.”
You must immediately broadcast such historical facts to the entire world.
Only then will you finally begin to justify collecting taxes from the Japanese people.